In this gripping and inspiring middle-grade novel, by the author of the bestselling Amal Unbound, Hafsa pushes back against her family’s expectations—and discovers her own power.
Hafsa has always dreamed of becoming a doctor, so when she’s accepted into a prestigious summer science camp, she’s thrilled. But her parents are not happy. The camp is expensive, it’s in a big city, and they don’t think a girl should aspire to be a doctor. Fortunately, her sister and brother-in-law invite her to stay with them.
But it turns out Hafsa has enrolled in the wrong course and her classmates treat her badly. She’s also worried about her sister, who is neglecting her career now that she’s married. Hafsa refocuses her energy on climate change. On a field trip to the city zoo, she encounters an elephant with bigger problems than her own and realises that standing up for what’s right, whether in the classroom, with her sister, or at the zoo, sometimes means breaking the rules. But Hafsa’s ready—even if it means getting in trouble.
Based on a true story, Hafsa’s Way is an uplifting novel about a girl who defies her family and community’s patriarchal expectations by pursuing her dreams for a better future.
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‘Omar Rising is irresistibly appealing and genuinely inspiring—a story that helps us to see the world more clearly, and to see ourselves as powerful enough to change it.’
‘Raw, honest, funny, charming and hopeful. A reminder of how people with privilege should never underestimate the courage and strength of young people fighting for their rights. Girls and boys everywhere can learn so much from a young girl like Amal.’
‘Timely and stirring…reminds us that the powerful aren’t invincible—and that every action, no matter how small, bends the arc of the moral universe towards justice.’
‘Full of character and interest and written with a lovely balanced clarity, it celebrates the power of the gutsy individual.’
